Multiple electric connector



Nov. 3, 1953 A. JACK-SON ErAL MULTIPLE ELECTRIC CONNECTOR Filed May l1'1950 0G, if

ATTOR EY Patented Nov. 3, 1953 MULTIPLE ELECTRIC CONNECTOR AntonJackson, Queens Village, and Boris A. Jackson, Long Island City, N. Y.

Application May 11, 1950, Serial No. 161,328

This invention relates to electric connectors for completing a pluralityof circuits in assemblage of separate parts of the connector. Moreparticularly, the invention deals with devices of this type and kindhaving means at end portions of the connector for yieldably assistingseparation of the connectors as and when desired. Still moreparticularly, the invention deals with devices of the characterdescribed, wherein the separate contacts of the connectors have meansproviding a double yielding wiping engagement in completing electriccircuits between said contacts.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanyingdrawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosedand, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable referencecharacters in each of the views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one part of a connector showing one of thecontacts and diagrammatically illustrating the associate contacts in dotand dash lines.

Fig. 2 is a side edge view of the connector looking in the direction ofthe arrow 2 of Fig. l with parts of the construction broken away andagain showing only one of the electric contacts in full lines.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of an associate connector part showing only one ofthe electric contacts in full lines and diagrammatically illustratingassociate contacts in dot and dash lines.

Fig. 4 is a side edge view, similar to Fig. 2 of the connector seen inFig. 3 with parts of the construction broken away and in section; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing coupling engagement betweenthe contacts of both connectors.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing is shown at |0 one part of an electricconnector, said part comprising an oblong rectangular body of insulatingmaterial, in which a predetermined number of electric tubular contacts 2are xed, one of these contacts being shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and2 and the relative position of the several contacts are indicated in dotand dash lines in Fig. 1 and by the raised 'bearing portions 3 in Fig.2.

Each of the contacts of the connector part l0 comprise, at their lowerend, a tubular body, which has a number of circumferential splits, asindicated at I4, to provide a series of spring members l5, the lowerends of which are conical in form, as seen at |6. The upper end of each3 Claims. (Cl. 339-45) contact |2 has a projecting tubular portion l1,with which a circuit wire is adapted to be coupled. The ends of the bodyhave, at corner portions thereof, apertures I8 for mounting of theconnector part |0 in any desired manner. Said ends of the body have,between said apertures, a pin |9 at one end and a projecting tube orsleeve 20 at the other end. The pin I9 has a conical lower end 2| andboth the pin and sleeve have upwardly projecting threaded ends 22 and23, respectively. The pin i9 and tube or sleeve 20 project below thelower surface of the body ll a distance greater than the projection ofthe contacts l2, as clearly seen in Fig. 2.

In Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, I have shown at 24 'the companionconnector which again comprises an elongated body of insulating material25 and, iixed in bores extending vertically through said body, as forexample the bore 26 shown in Fig. 4, are pin contact elements, one ofwhich is seen at 21. Each element has an upwardly extending contact pinportion 28 disposed within the upper surface of the bore 26 and aroundthe base of the pin portion 28 are a plurality of spring contacts 29.The other end of each contact element 21 has a projecting tubularportion 30, with which a circuit wire is adapted to be coupled.

The elements 21 iit freely within the bores 26 and are held againstmovement in one direction by the shoulder portions 3| and againstdisplacement in the other direction by spring rings 32 engaging groovedportions 33, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. The free movement of theelements 21 may be said to be a lateral movement which preventsmisalinement of the connectors one with respect to the other.

The body 25 of the connector part 24 has mounting apertures 34 at cornerportions thereof, similar to the apertures I8, and at the ends of saidbody, between the apertures 34, are yieldable coupling members 35, 36.The member 35 comprises an elongated sleeve or tube 31 havingA anoutwardly projecting threaded extension 38 at one end. The upper openend of the tube or sleeve 31 is flared, as seen at 39.

Mounted in the lower portion of the tube or sleeve 31 is a split ring 4Uwhich provides means for retaining the lower end of a, coil spring 4|against accidental displacement from the tube 31. Fixed on the upper endof the spring 4| is an eyelet 42 which forms a guide entrance throat forguiding the pin I9 into the sleeve 31.

The member 36 comprises a rod or pin having a large conical upper end 43and an outwardly projecting threaded end 44 at the lower portionthereof. Arranged upon the reduced shank 45 of the pin is a coil spring46, on the upper end of which seats a ring or collar 41 which is ofgreater diameter than the head 43. This collar serves to aline the pinin the bore 48 of the body 25 and provides the annular clearance 49around the head 43 for the reception of the tube 20. It will also benoted that the upper end of the bore 48 is flared or conical in form, asclearly seen at 50.

In coupling the two connectors to establish electric connection betweenthe contacts I2 and 28, the pin I9 and tube 20 will operate to compressthe springs 4I and 46, respectively, putting the same under tension.However, the tension of these springs is not sufficient to interferewith normal coupling engagement between the several Y pairs of contacts.However, when it is desired to separate the connectors, these springs4I, 46 will aid in separation thereof.

It will be understood that, when the spring members I5 of each contactI2 passes down over the pin 28, these spring members I5 are flexedoutwardly to a slight extent, thus establishing a tensional wipingengagement with the pin 28 and, as the members I5 move downwardly, theythen engage the spring contacts 29 which are forced outwardly intoengagement with the walls of the bore 29 establishing a second tensionalwiping engagement and this last tensional action also serves to increasetensional engagement of the members I5 with the pin 28 in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

It will be apparent that the pin and socket constructions comprising thepins i9, 43 and tubes 20, 31 form means alining the various contacts ofthe multiple connector oneL with respect to the other in addition to themeans for tensionally assisting separation of the connectors.

Having fully describedour invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patents is:

1. A multiple connector of the class described, comprising two bodyparts of insulating material, one part having a plurality lof tubularcontacts spaced thereon, the other part having a plurality of contactpins correspondingly spaced thereon, said pins having free lateralmovement to accommodate misalinement of the tubular contacts therewith,end portions of said parts beyond and spaced from said contacts havingalinement pin and socket elements, the pin element of one part engagingthe socket element of the opposed part in coupling and alining saidparts one.

with the other, one only of the socket elements and one only of the pinelements having tensional means providing, in the coupling of saidparts, a spring loading, which aids in detachment of said parts, saidpin contacts being arranged in socket portions of the second part, aplurality of spring contacts encircling and spaced from said pincontacts at the base of said sockets, said tubular contacts having splitend portions forming a series of spring members thereon, and said springmembers terminating in in- Wardly and outwardly bevelled surfaces.

2. In connectors of the type employing a plurality of pin and socketyieldable contacts,

adapted to be simultaneously r.brought into engagement with each other,said connectors comprising bodies of insulating material, means toassist separation of said connectors, said means comprising pin andsocket elements spaced with respect to the contacts of said connectors,the socket element of one connector including an elongated 4coil springarranged in the socket thereof, means at the base of the socket forretaining the spring against displacement, the pin element of saidconnector being arranged in a socket portion of said body and comprisinga long shank having an enlarged conical head at its outer end, a coilspring mounted on said shank within said socket portion, a ring membermounted on said shank and of larger diameter than said head and ttingsnugly, but freely, in said socket portion, said spring normally seatingthe ring member on said head, and the pin and socket elements of theother vconnector actuating the springs of said socket and pin elementsof the first connector in loading said spring to the point of assistingseparation of coupled connectors.

3. In connectors of the type employing a plurality of pin and socketyieldable contacts, adapted to be simultaneously brought into engagementwith each other, said connectors comprising bodies of insulatingmaterial, means to assist separation of said connectors, said meanscomprising pin and socket elements spaced with respect to the contactsof said connectors, the socket element of one connector including anelongated coil spring arranged in the socket thereof, means at the baseof the socket for retaining the spring against displacement, the pinelement of said connector being arranged in a sccket portion of saidbody and comprising a long shank having an enlarged conical head at itsouter end, a coil spring mounted on said shank Within said socketportion, a ring member mounted on said shank and of larger diameter thansaid head and fitting snugly, but freely, in said socket portion, saidspring normally seating the ring member on said head, the pin and socketelements of the other connector actuating the springs of said socket andpin elements of the rst connector in loading said spring to the point ofassisting separation of coupled connectors, and said contacts of atleast one of the connectors having limited lateral movement accommodat-Ving misalinement of said contacts in coupling said connectors.

ANTON JACKSON. BORIS A. JACKSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 513,949 Munson Jan. 30, 1894 945,995 Weeks Jan. 1l, 19102,220,810 'Bright Nov. 5, 1940 2,436,914 Breisch Mar. 2, 1948 2,466,370Burtt Apr. 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 320,997 FranceMay 7, 1902 619,631 Germany Oct. 25, 1935

